MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Peoria Chiefs

August 23, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers nearly let one get away Monday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. They led the Peoria Chiefs 7-3 heading into the seventh inning, but the Chiefs rallied to tie the game and send it to extra innings. But, Juan Ortiz sealed the win with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the tenth for an 8-7 win. The victory was the second straight walkoff win for Wisconsin.

Peoria (66-60-1 overall, 26-30-1 second half) took the lead in the top of the second inning. Brian O'Keefe crushed a home run over the Chiefs bullpen in left-center to start the frame. O'Keefe's homer was his twelfth of the season and gave them a 1-0 lead.

Wisconsin (63-64, 29-28) responded with four runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Lucas Erceg cracked a solo homer, his fifth home run since joining the Rattlers, to the picnic deck in right field with one out to tie the game. Monte Harrison walked and Ortiz singled to follow Erceg. Max McDowell singled to right and Harrison just beat the throw to the plate to score the go-ahead run. Carlos Belonis got Ortiz home with a ground out. Later in the inning, Luis Aviles sent McDowell home with a single.

The Chiefs cut Wisconsin's lead to one run with two runs in the top of the third. Jose Martinez doubled to start the inning. A single by Eli Alvarez scored Martinez. A wild pitch by Wisconsin starter Jordan Desguin allowed Alvarez to score from third later in the frame to make it 4-3.

Trent Clark, who had three hits in the game, pushed the Rattlers advantage back to three runs with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Erceg and Harrison combined to add to the lead in the fifth. Erceg tripled with two outs. Harrison drove Erceg home with an infield single and the Rattlers were up 7-3.

Peoria chipped away at the lead with single runs in the seventh and eighth against reliever Miguel Sanchez. Magneuris Sierra tripled with one out in the seventh and Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to center to get the run home. In the eighth, RJ Dennard knocked in a run with a two-out triple and Wisconsin's lead was down to 7-5.

Scott Grist came on to pitch the top of the ninth, but gave up a bloop double to center to Craig Aikin to start the inning. Then, Sierra hit a ball to the left-center field gap. The ball caromed away from the fielders and Sierra circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run to tie the game 7-7.

Jake Gatewood, who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run in the tenth inning on Sunday against Beloit, hustled a single into a double with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning on Monday. The double was the Rattlers first hit off Peoria's side-arm tossing right-handed reliever Tyler Bray, who retired the first seven batters he faced in the game.

The Chiefs walked the lefty Erceg to have Bray face Harrison, who grounded out slowly to first for the second out, but both runners moved into scoring position.

Peoria elected to pitch to the left-handed Ortiz, who was hitting just .148 on the season coming into the game, with first base open. Bray had struck out Ortiz in the eighth. It was a different story in the tenth. Ortiz, who had three hits in the game, lined the first pitch from Bray in the tenth into left to get Gatewood home with the winning run.

In the second half Western Division Wild Card race, the Rattlers win allowed them to stay one game behind the Burlington Bees. Burlington beat Kane County 6-1 at home to move their second half record to 30-27. The Quad Cities River Bandits lost 4-1 at Cedar Rapids. The River Bandits are now 27-30 and fell to three games behind the Bees. There are thirteen games left in the regular season.

Game two of the series is Tuesday afternoon. Corbin Burnes (3-0, 2.45) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria has named Dailyn Martinez (4-5, 5.58) as their starter. Game time is 12:05pm.

Tuesday is a day for the kids and they rock the ballpark one more time before they head back to school. Neuroscience Group will have a limited number of bike helmets to give to the kids. They will be there to help get the proper fit for the helmet, too. Appleton Rock School will be performing outside the stadium before the game to get you ready to rock!

Sid the Science Kid returns to the ballpark on Tuesday in case you missed him on Monday. Once the kids are inside pick up a Kids Eat Free Voucher and head for the Kids' Zone where the inflatable rides are FREE!

Show your business card at the box office window and for $13.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog for the Business Person Special. The offer is also available to military personnel and senior citizens (55 & older) courtesy of Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM.

The radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 11:45am. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.

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